Photon is a satellite bus based on Rocket Lab's Electron kick stage.[1] It moves satellites into their appropriate orbits once boosted by rockets such as Electron. It is customizable for uses including LEO payload hosting,[2] lunar flybys, and interplanetary missions.[3]
Location of Photon on the Electron rocket
Photon uses chemical propulsion for orbit adjustments. It can use a variety of engines, such as the Curie and HyperCurie engines, as well as engines from third-party sources, such as the one powering the EscaPADE mission.[4]
Photon first launched in August 2020 on Rocket Lab's I Can't Believe It's Not Optical mission, where it served as a pathfinder. It has since flown three times. It flew the CAPSTONE mission.[citation needed]
Photon communicates on the S-band.[5] Depending on the orbital inclination (37° to Sun-synchronous orbit), it is expected to have a payload capacity of 170 kg (370 lb).[6] The low Earth orbit version of Photon can take 170 kg (370 lb) to Sun-synchronous orbit.[7] The interplanetary version was to have a 40 kg (88 lb) payload capacity.[8]
HyperCurie is an evolution of the Curie engine, which comes in monopropellant and bipropellant versions, while the HyperCurie is hypergolic[9] and electrically pumped.[10]
Development
In April 2019, Rocket Lab announced plans to create a new satellite bus, named Photon, to position small satellites into orbit. Its goal was to reduce complexity and development time, enabling technology demonstrations without developing a full spacecraft. The company aimed to broaden its portfolio and diversify its revenue streams.[11][12] The company announced it was targeting lunar orbit as part of its services, enabled by a bi-propellant propulsion system.[13][14] The development of Photon included working with potential customers, with significant interest from government agencies.[11] The first few Photon satellites would be technology demonstrators before transitioning to operational launches for customers, which started with NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat in June 2022.[11]
Photon is manufactured at Rocket Lab's factory in Huntington Beach, California. It can utilize a variety of engines, including those developed by Rocket Lab itself, such as the Curie and HyperCurie engines, as well as engines from third-party sources, such as the one powering the EscaPADE mission.[4] Photon communicates on S-band. Depending on the orbital inclination (37° to Sun-synchronous orbit), it is expected to have a maximum payload capacity of 170 kg (370 lb).[17] The low Earth orbit version of Photon can take 130 kg (290 lb) to Sun-synchronous orbit.
A modified version of Photon has bigger propellant tanks and the HyperCurie engine for interplanetary missions.[18][19] The interplanetary version has a 40 kg (88 lb) payload capacity.[19] HyperCurie is an evolution of the Curie engine, which comes in a monopropellant version and a bipropellant version, while the HyperCurie is a hypergolic version.[20] HyperCurie is electrically pumped.[21]
Initial launches
The inaugural Photon satellite was the Photon Pathfinder/First Light satellite (COSPAR ID 2020-060A) described by Rocket Lab as its "first in-house designed and built Photon demonstration satellite". It was launched aboard Electron rocket on 31 August 2020 on the 14th Electron mission "I Can't Believe It's Not Optical". First Light had a dual role in the mission: first as the final rocket stage delivering the customer satellite (Capella 2) and then as a standalone satellite undertaking its own orbital mission. The purpose of the First Light standalone mission was to demonstrate the new (as compared to "plain" kick stage) systems for operating in orbit as a long-duration standalone satellite. To demonstrate Photon's payload hosting capabilities, First Light had a low-resolution video camera.[22]
The second formal test, Photon Pathstone, was launched on 22 March 2021 on the 19th Electron mission "They Go Up So Fast".[23] Like First Light, Pathstone first delivered customer satellites to orbit before transitioning into its own satellite operations.[16] Pathstone operations were aimed at building flight heritage and focused on testing systems in preparation for launching NASA's CAPSTONE smallsat mission in June 2022.[23][16] These tests included power and thermal management, attitude control via reaction wheels and communications systems.[16]
The first operational launch for Photon was NASA's CAPSTONE smallsat mission.[24] Qualification of the Photon kick stage for this mission was underway by December 2020.[24] Photon delivered CAPSTONE on a trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn on 6th day from liftoff after performing 6 apogee raising burns at perigee within every 24 hours from liftoff, leading to TLI and a near-rectilinear halo orbit. After this the CAPSTONE was deployed in its journey to the Moon.
After completing all the mission requirements for NASA, Rocket Lab utilised its Photon spacecraft for a low-altitude lunar flyby.[16]
Photon versions
Due to the high amount of customization Photon can undergo, Rocket Lab decided to rebrand Photon and split it into different spacecraft: Explorer, Lightning, Pioneer, and Photon.[25]
Explorer
Explorer is a high delta-V spacecraft designed for deep space missions. The first Explorer flew in 2022 and delivered CAPSTONE to a trajectory towards the Moon. Currently, two Explorers are being built for the EscaPADE mission. Explorer can be launched on any rocket, depending on the mission profile.
Lightning
Lightning is designed for LEO constellations and is intended to operate for 12+ years in LEO. It boasts a 3 kW power delivery system and is suited for high-duty-cycle telecommunications and remote sensing.[25] Lightning currently has no flight heritage, with the first launch planned for 2025. Both the satellites (buses) for Globalstar and the Space Development Agency are based on the Lightning architecture.
Pioneer
Pioneer is a highly specialized satellite bus designed to support payloads up to 120 kg for special missions, including re-entry and dynamic space operations. Pioneer first took flight in 2023, supporting a mission for Varda Space Industries where the capsule atop the bus grew crystals of the drug ritonavir. After growing the crystals and experiencing some regulatory hold-ups, the spacecraft returned to Earth and landed in Utah.
Photon
Photon is the upgraded version of Rocket Lab's kick stage. It features power, propulsion, and communications systems for delivering payloads to LEO. The first Photon was launched in 2020, deploying a satellite for Capella Space. After deployment, the Photon spacecraft served as a pathfinder.
The second launch of the Photon satellite bus. "Pathstone" served as a risk reduction demonstration for the CAPSTONE mission which would send a satellite to the moon.[29] It also deployed 7 satellites for BlackSky, Fleet Space, Myriota, Care Weather Technologies, The University of New South Wales’s Canberra Space and U.S. Army’s SMDC.
Lunar Photon brought the CAPSTONECubeSat to TLI, CAPSTONE then separated from lunar Photon to get into NRHO around the Moon. The mission served as a pathfinding mission for NASA's upcoming Gateway.[31]
First launch of four. In orbit, the capsule will grow crystals of the drug called ritonavir.[34] After which, Photon reentered the capsule and separated from the capsule. The capsule then fell down to Earth and landed in Utah, where the drugs will be retrieved. The touchdown happen on Feb 21st, 2024.[35]
Upcoming missions
Confirmed upcoming missions for Photon and Photon variants.
Rocket Lab received a subcontract from the University of California Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory (UCBSSL) to design two Photon spacecraft for the EscaPADE mission, set to orbit Mars and study its magnetosphere. The mission, part of NASA's SIMPLEx program, will explore Mars' unique magnetosphere and its relationship with the solar wind, shedding light on the planet's historical climate changes.[38]
Mission for SSC, Rocket Lab will build and launch a satellite for TacRS (Tactically Responsive Space). Once on orbit, the spacecraft will conduct a variety of dynamic space operations to demonstrate SDA characterization capabilities with True Anomaly’s spacecraft, the Jackal autonomous orbital vehicle. [42]
First privately funded mission to venus.[44] Photon will examine the Venus cloud layer in search for organic compounds.
The goal is to send a probe to around 48 km altitude where Venus' atmospheric conditions are closer to those found on Earth.[44]
NET 2025
LEO
Globalstar
Unknown
Lightning
Unknown
In February 2022, Rocket Lab was awarded a $143 million subcontract by MDA to lead the design and manufacture of 17 spacecraft buses for Globalstar’s new Low Earth Orbit satellites.[46] The launch is planned for no earlier than late 2025.
Spacecraft bus for Viasat. The Rocket Lab spacecraft will provide the power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for the mission demonstration. Rocket Lab will incorporate its own satellite components and sub-systems into the spacecraft including star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, S-band radios, flight software and ground software, and the new L-band radio in development for the future InCommand service. [47]
Rocket Lab was selected by the SDA to design and built 18 Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta Data Transport Satellites (T2TL - Beta). The launch is planned no earlier than 2027.
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future
Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)
Happy SalmaLahir4 Januari 1980 (umur 44)Sukabumi, Jawa Barat, IndonesiaPekerjaanAktrisproduserpenulisTahun aktif1997—sekarangSuami/istriTjokorda Bagus Dwi Santana Max Kerthyasa (m. 2010)Anak2Situs webhappy-salma.net Happy Salma (lahir 4 Januari 1980) adalah seorang aktris, produser, dan penulis berkebangsaan Indonesia. Ia termasuk dalam salah satu tokoh berpengaruh di Asia, versi majalah Tatler pada tahun 2020.[1] Happy menerima pengharg…
Para el concepto aplicado a otros seres vivos, véase Nacimiento. Para otros usos de este término, véase Parto (desambiguación). Madre y recién nacido posparto El parto humano, también llamado nacimiento, es la culminación del embarazo humano hasta el período de la salida del bebé del útero. La edad de un individuo se define por este suceso en muchas culturas. Se considera que una mujer inicia el parto con la aparición de contracciones uterinas regulares, que aumentan en intensidad y f…
نادي الهلال السعودي موسم 1986–87موسم 1986–87الرئيس الامير عبد الله بن سعدالمدرب نوقيرا (1986) روبنز مينيللي (1986–1987) فيداتو ( مارس 1987)ملعبملعب الأمير فيصل بن فهدالدوري الممتازالمركز الثانيبطولة الأندية الخليجيةالبطل (اللقب الأول)كأس الاتحاد السعوديالبطل (اللقب الأول)كأس الملكالو…
لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع كولومبوس (توضيح). كولومبوس الإحداثيات 45°38′18″N 109°15′07″W / 45.6383°N 109.252°W / 45.6383; -109.252 [1] تقسيم إداري البلد الولايات المتحدة[2] التقسيم الأعلى مقاطعة ستيلواتر عاصمة لـ مقاطعة ستيلواتر خصائص جغرافية المساحة 3…
County in Rhode Island, United States Narragansett Country redirects here. For the Narragansett tribals lands, see Narragansett Indian Reservation. County in Rhode IslandWashington CountyCountyFormer Washington County Courthouse in West KingstonLocation within the U.S. state of Rhode IslandRhode Island's location within the U.S.Coordinates: 41°27′16″N 71°34′52″W / 41.454544°N 71.581154°W / 41.454544; -71.581154Country United StatesState Rhode IslandF…
City in Southern California, United States This article is about the city in California. For the county, see San Diego County, California. For other uses, see San Diego (disambiguation). City in California, United StatesSan DiegoCityDowntown San Diego skylineLa JollaMission San Diego de AlcaláCalifornia Tower at Balboa ParkEl CortezBalboa Theatre FlagSealLogoNicknames: America's Finest City,[1] Birthplace of California, City in Motion[2]Motto: Semper Vigilans (Latin fo…
«Don't Stop the Party»Sencillo de The Black Eyed Peasdel álbum The BeginningPublicación 9 de mayo de 2011 (Internet) 28 de junio de 2011 (Radios)[1]Formato Descarga digital, sencillo en CDGrabación 2010Género(s) Hip house, dance, tranceDuración 6:07Discográfica InterscopeAutor(es) William Adams, Allan Pineda, Jaime Gomez, Stacy FergusonProductor(es) will.i.am, DJ Ammosencillos de Black Eyed Peas «Just Can't Get Enough» (2011) «Don't Stop the Party» (2011) «Street Livin'» (20…
Island in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia BidongNative name: Pulau Bidongڤولاو بيدوڠPula BidongLandscape of Bidong IslandBidongShow map of Peninsular MalaysiaBidongShow map of MalaysiaBidongShow map of South China SeaGeographyLocationSouth China SeaCoordinates5°37′N 103°4′E / 5.617°N 103.067°E / 5.617; 103.067AdministrationMalaysiaStateTerengganu Bidong Island (Malay: Pulau Bidong, Terengganuan Pula Bidong) is an island in Kuala Nerus District, Terengg…
Combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight Big rig, Eighteen wheeler, and Truck and trailer redirect here. For use of the expression in rugby union, see Glossary of rugby union terms § T. For other uses, see 18 wheeler (disambiguation) and Big Rig (disambiguation). Conventional style cab tractor A cab over semi-tractor Tractor with an end-dump trailer A FAW semi-trailer truck in China A semi-trailer truck,[1] (also known by a wide variety of other …
La Goulafrièrecomune LocalizzazioneStato Francia Regione Normandia Dipartimento Eure ArrondissementBernay CantoneBreteuil TerritorioCoordinate48°57′N 0°27′E48°57′N, 0°27′E (La Goulafrière) Superficie14,36 km² Abitanti175[1] (2009) Densità12,19 ab./km² Altre informazioniCod. postale27390 Fuso orarioUTC+1 Codice INSEE27289 CartografiaLa Goulafrière Modifica dati su Wikidata · Manuale La Goulafrière è un comune francese di 175 abitanti situato n…
Enišasi merupakan sebuah kota, atau negara-kota yang terletak di Lembah Bekaa-(disebut Amqu, atau Amka) di Lebanon, pada korespondensi surat Amarna tahun 1350-1335 SM . Dari 382 surat Amarna, Enišasi hanya dirujuk dalam dua surat. Enišasi terletak di dekat Hašabu, (Tell Hašbe), dan Hasi, (Tell Hizzin?), sebelah barat daya Baalbek. Dua 'wali kota', atau penguasa Enišasi adalah Šatiya dan Abdi-Riša, yang masing-masing menulis sepucuk surat ke firaun Mesir, EA 187- (judul: Seorang putri yan…
2012 UK local government election Map of the results of the 2012 Hastings council election. Labour in red and Conservatives in blue. The 2012 Hastings Borough Council election was held on Thursday 3 May 2012 to elect members of Hastings Borough Council in East Sussex, England. Half of the council was up for election, and Labour remained in overall control of the council. Overall turnout was 30.9%, a significant reduction compared to the previous results in 2010, when the elections were held alon…
Defunct provincial electoral district in Manitoba, Canada This article is about the Canadian electoral district. For the Australian electoral district, see electoral district of Logan. For other uses, see Logan (disambiguation). Logan Manitoba electoral districtDefunct provincial electoral districtLegislatureLegislative Assembly of ManitobaDistrict created2008First contested2011Last contested2016 Logan is a former provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created…
Rugby teamUSC Trojan Men's RugbyFull nameUSC Rugby Football ClubUnionUSA RugbyNickname(s)TrojansFounded1886; 138 years ago (1886)LocationLos AngelesRegionSouthern CaliforniaGround(s)Allyson Felix (Capacity: 1,000)PresidentGiorgio GrandiDirector of RugbyDominic RibleiCoach(es)Riaz Fredericks, Joseph KrassensteinCaptain(s)Giorgio Grandi, Cooper SwanLeague(s)PAC Rugby Conference, GCCIR[1] Team kit Official websitewww.uscrugby.com The USC Trojans Rugby Football Club is the …
